Apr. 24, 2010

Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson did little in the NFL draft to immediately improve a defense that was torched by the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs. File/Press-Gazette

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We’ve heard all the happy talk from the Green Bay Packers’ front office about the NFL draft. Every player selected by the Packers has great “measurables,” was the highest-rated on their board and is loaded with potential.

♦ If the Packers are just one or two players away from reaching the Super Bowl, as some believe, initial impressions suggest they won’t receive much instant impact from their draft choices. With the possible exception of third-round safety Morgan Burnett, who might bump Atari Bigby out of his job, the other picks aren’t likely to crack the starting lineup immediately. Thompson added depth and potential future starters with first-round tackle Bryan Bulaga and second-round defensive end Mike Neal, but none of this year’s picks is expected to make a big splash like Clay Matthews did a year ago.

♦ The same team that was torched in a 51-45 playoff loss to Arizona didn’t draft a single cornerback or pass-rushing outside linebacker to bolster its defense. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the team would improve from within. Thompson seems confident his injured cornerbacks will return to full strength, and he’s not sweating the void at left outside linebacker caused by Aaron Kampman’s departure.

That might be music to the ears of Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Tony Romo, three top-flight quarterback who are expected to face the Packers this season.

♦ The Packers haven’t returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a decade, and no end to that drought is in sight. Thompson didn’t draft a dynamic return man, meaning McCarthy will once again have to find someone by default to return kickoffs. No wonder the Packers have posed no home-run return threat for so long.

♦ Thompson admitted last week that finding a capable punter has been a vexing problem in recent years. Yet for the sixth straight year he elected not to draft a punter. McCarthy called the Packers’ punting the past two years “unacceptable.” Perhaps the same can be said for the team’s commitment to finding a quality punter.

♦ Is it possible to have too many potentially good players at one position? Thompson doesn’t think so, especially when it comes to offensive and defensive linemen. Thus he drafted a pair of offensive tackles and defensive ends. That should upgrade the overall depth of those units, but having better backups won’t necessarily translate into more success in 2010.